The Te Aroha News Published MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1917 TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5503, 22 June 1917, Page 2

The Te Aroha News Published MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1917 TO BE OR NOT TO BE

The holding of the annual show is one of the questions to be presented for discussion at the annual meeting of members of the Thames Valley Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Association on Saturday next in Te Aroha. It will be remembered that a year ago the members at the annual decided not to hold the usual exhibition owing to tho continuance of the war. This decision was come to doubtless owing to the fact that several kindred associations had decided likewise and in expectation that many others would follow the same lead. It was felt that the absence of so many of our young farmers on active sorvico aud tho consequent inerted attention to ordinary

t.farm duties by their elders would prevent, in many cases, the stock bemg got ready for show purposes and brought to the showgrounds; also that the time taken up in preparing the show by the officials and the public generally could be better employed by workiug on the farms to increase production. This viewpoint had its merits, but what do we find ? Practically every person in the district, be ho farmet or otherwise, finds time to attend other functions much less important and educative than agricultural and pastoral exhibitions. Those associations which held their shows as usual took the wise precaution of pruning their schedule, so as to cover only the most attractive classes, and this course resulted in successful shows being held in almost every instance —successful financially, educationally aud in point of general public iuterest.

The Thames Valley A., P. aud B. Association has had its vicissitudes in the past, and even now can hardly be described as a prosperous concern, but it cauuol be denied that it serves a very useful purpose in the district. There has been a wish expressed at times that there were too niauy agricultural shows in the Dominion, and that a policy of centralisation, providing greater competition, was what was wanted. Well, that question may bo debated later. Certainly it has its merits and demerits, its advocates aud opponents, but why should not To Aroha become one of the centres V Wo have in the neighbourhood some of the very best farming laud to be found iu the Dominion, the settlers are quite as progressive as those in other districts, and the country is being brought to productively faster probably than any other part of New Zealand. That the laud is rich is evident to the most casual, aud the time is fast approaching when we will have within easy distance of Te Aroha five, and probably ten times the present population. Any proposals that would result iu improvement of the educational side of agrieu'tural and pastoral work would, we think, be most desirable at present, aud in this connection we have before us the recent pronouncement of tho President of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture, Mr W. D. Huut, who is also a member of the National Efficiency Board, aud one of the best kuowu and best informed agiicultuialists in the South Island, lie is, wo think, a product of one of the pioneer families, aud is not unknown hero, though most of his public work has been done in the Otago and Southland districts. Tic recently expressed himself thusly : “ I am stiotigly of the opinion that with so many problems arising out of the war there was never a time when thecoufcrenees between well-iuformed farmers were more required than they are at present. This war is going to bring many new conditions and developernents, and farmers as well as other people must be prepared to meet them. The Agiieultnral aud Pastoral Societies have in the past carried out a great work amongst the farming community, and I think there is a wider field opening for them than ever in this direction.”

The Council of Agriculture has requested all associations to continue holding Shows, and suggests that it would be as reasonable to close our Technical Schools owing to the war. They point out that Shows are held solely for the benefit of the community aud for stimulating the production of a better article and a better class of stock.

Wojtrust the five liuudred or more farmers iu this district, aud the ful lest representation of local business men will attend the annual meetiug of the local Association on Saturday next.